Each of Australia's four frontline bowlers took more than 20 wickets in the five-match series with Pat Cummins leading the way with 23 dismissals, followed by Mitchell Starc (22), Josh Hazlewood (21) and Nathan Lyon (21).

The touring squad's behaviour has also been a distraction for Root and coach Trevor Bayliss, who struggled to hide his frustration after the drunken actions of Jonny Bairstow and England A batsman Ben Duckett earlier on the tour.

It became an issue at the MCG on Friday after the umpires, Sundaram Ravi and Kumar Dharmasena, spoke to England captain Joe Root and Jimmy Anderson, and Australian television repeatedly showed footage of Anderson cleaning the seam on the ball.

Trailing by 164 runs after England's first innings ended on 491 on the first ball of the day, Australia had crawled to 103 for two in their second innings when play was suspended before tea because of the storm.